The Night Before Christmas by K.S. David

This isn't your favorite children's Christmas story. The Night Before Christmas by K.S. David is a romantic suspense, coming to you just in time for the holidays. Check out this excerpt and then download your own copy to keep you intrigued. Leave comments and questions for the author and follow the tour to see even more. Good luck entering the giveaway!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The Night Before Christmas

From the author of A Promise Kept and Every Single Wish, comes an exhilarating romantic suspense for the holidays.

As Center City and its quirky residents get ready to ring in the holiday with merriment and good cheer, Calista Tate is forced to make a terrible decision? Does she stay and fight for the life she's created or - does she run away? One man could be her angel - her saving grace. And, the promise of love may be strong enough to make her hold her ground. The wrong decision could put them both at risk.

Calista Singletary decided it was finally safe to settle down. She opened a small bakery, has a new home and life is good. That is until she gets arrested for killing her elderly neighbor. It doesn’t help that she chased the old man out of her house with a rolling pin two days earlier. The same rolling pin is found under his bruised and bloody body. Calista thinks some trickery is underfoot. Good thing her sexy attorney, Marc Collins, thinks he can get the charges dropped.

But Calista knows that when the authorities start digging, they’re going to uncover her true identity. That’s when the real horrors will begin. She usually stays packed and ready to blow town at the first sign of trouble - assuming a new name, a new look, a new story. But she’s growing close to Marc and just once, she wants to feel normal. Will the cost be too high?

Three years earlier, the man Calista loved sucked her into a world of indescribable horror. She’s the only one who can testify to the atrocities he committed by Thomas Langston. She stole three million dollars of his money and maimed him the day she left. In return, Thomas made her a promise. He would always love her. He would never stop looking for her. And the next time he saw Calista - he was going to kill her.

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

A small crowd was gathered on the edge of my lawn. Neighbors hollered so loud that I couldn’t even hear myself think. A wall of hickory trees covered in a new dusting of snow stood above us caught our noise, bounded it around and threw the sounds back down. The strange vibration of our voices echoed in my ears.

“Calista! Really! Chasing an old man with a dough roller in the middle of the night! You should be ashamed," chastised Alma Douglas. Her blue curlers peeked out from beneath a large sateen scarf infested with brightly colored butterflies. Her thin pink cotton robe barely closed over her ample bosom. Her feet were thick, feet were shoved into a pair of matted blue slippers.

"Ashamed?" I snorted. "I found him in my house! What woman runs out of her home in the middle of the night screaming, if nothing is wrong?”

"He's harmless," Mr. Landy gagged back a chuckle. "Wouldn't hurt a fly." Then leaned forward and whispered, "The lights are on, but no one's inside." He whistled and made circles around his head. "You know what I mean, right?" Meager strands of gray hair had escaped hair band and whipped around the balding halo of his scalp.

The subject of our discussion was my elderly neighbor, Fred Guthrie. The man was stooped with a slight hump in his back. I had been living next door to him for a few months but had only seen him a hand-full of times. Shuffling his feet back-and-forth, he was oblivious to the argument surrounding him. The man was thin. A good wind could have knocked him over. Standing between us, Fred Guthrie was immune to my argument. His yellow, rummy eyes were downcast. Blue veined hands quivered at his side as he hummed faintly.

About K.S. David

K. S. David lives in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband, their three children and a menagerie of pets. New storylines are constantly running through her head. She keeps notebooks tucked in pockets of the car, the nightstand and makes voice recordings just about all day long. She's addicted to true life mysteries and crime shows, both of which marry well with a great romance. Some of her favorite things are long walks, reading in bed, baking and of course, writing her next novel.

https://www.amazon.com/K.-S.-David/e/B00BP1U4BI
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6979268.K_S_David
https://twitter.com/ksdavidromance
https://www.facebook.com/ks.david.52

K. S. David will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review of Saving Anna (A Sweet Life Novel) by Sharon Struth

Welcome to the review tour for Saving Anna by Sharon Struth. I'm a big fan of Sharon's books, and this one was no exception. Keep on reading to see my review of this book. Follow the tour to read what other people thought about this book as well. You can leave comments and questions along the way for Sharon to answer. And you'll have extra chances to enter the giveaway!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you. I also received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Saving Anna

Germany’s sparkling Rhineland is the perfect place for a fresh start . . .

Warming people’s hearts with true accounts of kindness is what columnist Anna Kelly does best. But no one knows the private misery she endures in her abusive marriage. Still, leaving is difficult—until a deeply personal bequest from a beloved elderly neighbor compels Anna to travel to Germany. There she begins an unexpected adventure of paying it forward that will take her far from her complicated life in Brooklyn.

Arriving in the historic and picturesque city of Mainz, on the breathtaking Rhine River, Anna settles in at a cozy guesthouse filled with colorful residents. But fulfilling her task will require the help of a translator and knowledgeable guide.

Josef Schmitt will gladly shuttle the American visitor around if it distracts him from his dark thoughts. Ever since a serious accident sidelined him at the local excursions company, he’s been unable to forget the pain he caused or forgive himself. Now, accompanying Anna on her mission takes them both to surprising places—and they just may find the courage to truly set themselves free . . .

Read an excerpt:

In two days, Patrick would return to LaGuardia airport and take a cab directly to his office at Goldman Sachs. The lawyer said he’d have the divorce papers served there around lunchtime. By then, she’d already be on another continent. Far away from the physical abuse he’d want to inflict on her once the papers were in his hands. Of that, she felt certain. He’d smacked her around for lesser infractions, starting just days after they’d returned from their honeymoon.

Even though she would be leaving the country to stay safe, he deserved a note. A note would be easier than a conversation.

At the kitchen island, she found a pad and steadied a pen on the paper.

Dear Patrick,
If you’re reading this, it means you’re back from Florida and have realized I’m not here.

Anna ripped the page off the small legal pad, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it on the marble island. She wrote for a living and could do better.

Dear Patrick,
For the past two years, I’ve begged you to get help. I understand your father hurt you, but I can no longer accept your past as an excuse for hurting me. ME! The person who always loved you, tried to help you, accepted your many, many apologies. You say you love me, but your actions speak otherwise. I no longer love you. You bully me, make me afraid, and refuse to let me to see my friends and family—

She ripped the paper off the pad and tore it in half. Too much. She’d spoken these words to him many times after he’d calm down, her speeches always soliciting remorse-filled apologies she’d blindly believed for the first year of their marriage. The second year, she’d grown skeptical, but continued to cover the bruises and lie to anybody who happened to see one. Now, she despised him.

The clock on the wall showed it was time to leave. She pressed the pen to the paper and the words flowed easily this time.

Dear Patrick,
By now you’ve been served the divorce papers and know I’m leaving you. Please seek help and do not look for me. If you are calm when I return, we can talk. Otherwise, you will deal with my attorney.
Anna

She propped the note next to a bowl of fruit, where they always left messages they wanted the other to see…

Buy Links:

Amazon * B & N * Kobo * iTunes * Google

**My thoughts**

I love this series by Sharon Struth. She takes people who are damaged from their pasts, pluts them in a new environment, and they learn how to forgive themselves and fall in love again, both with themselves and with someone else. And these two characters are definitely damaged.

Josef still suffers from physical pain as a result of a deadly car accident in which he was the sole survivor. He also suffers from a tremendous amount of survivor's guilt, as his passenger, whom he didn't know very well, was killed. He cannot remember any details from the accident and is still searching for an answer to they question of why it happened.

Anna has escaped an abusive marriage, though Patrick could conceivably come after her at any given moment. She has escaped to Germany, thanks to an intuitive neighbor who saw through her covering up and realized what kind of situation she was in. He asked her to please go to Germany and find the man who saved him from the Nazis back during the early days of WWII. He also knew it would be a great excuse for her to leave Patrick, and he left her the means to be able to do it. It was his dying wish for her to do so, and she feels obligated to do this for him. Plus she needs the escape and the history is fascinating. 

Josef has been hired to drive Anna wherever she needs to go, and to serve as an interpreter for her should she need one. This forces him to face his demons from the accident. Plus Anna reminds him of Lily, the woman he inadvertently killed. As in the other books in this series, the two MCs end up helping each other heal, without realizing that was going to happen when they met.

I admit that this one took me a little bit longer to get into, but I still enjoyed reading it. I especially liked learning some more of the history. I have along been fascinated by WWII stories, and this one layers in the past with the present to provide an interesting tale. Plus I like these stories of finding redemption and healing in Europe. I look forward to seeing where the next book takes us!

About Sharon Struth

Sharon Struth believes you’re never too old to pursue a dream. The Hourglass, her debut novel, was a finalist in the National Readers’ Choice Awards for Best First Book. She is the author of the popular Blue Moon Lake Novels, which include Share the Moon.

When she’s not working, she and her husband happily sip their way through the scenic towns of the Connecticut Wine Trail, travel the world, and enjoy spending time with their precious pets and two grown daughters. She writes from the friendliest place she’s ever lived, Bethel, Connecticut. For essays, please visit www.sharonstruth.com or visit her blog, Musings from the Middle more information, including where to find her published Ages & More at www.sharonstruth.wordpress.com

Social Media

Website: www.sharonstruth.com
Twitter: @sharonstruth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sharon-Struth-Author-Page-139641182749036/

Sharon Struth will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review of Ava's Prize by Cari Lynn Webb



On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the tour for Ava's Prize by Cari Lynn Webb! I had the opportunity to review this book and am sharing my thoughts with you today. Please also follow the tour to get the thoughts of other people, as well as other fun insights into the book. Please leave comments and questions for the author and download your own copy to enjoy! You'll also want to check out the giveaway.

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you. I also received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ava's Prize
(City by the Bay Stories #3)
By Cari Lynn Webb
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
November 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

He needs a great idea

She can provide it—but at what cost?

The battle lines are drawn when army medic turned EMT Ava Andrews enters a contest devised by San Francisco entrepreneur Kyle Quinn. The first responder isn’t just competing for a tempting grand prize. She’s fighting her attraction to the self-made millionaire…and losing the war. But private and professional boundaries blur when a breach of trust threatens Ava’s future with Kyle.

Goodreads│Amazon│B&N│
iBooks│Kobo│Harlequin

**My thoughts**

I have to admit that Kyle is difficult to warm up to. But that's not totally his fault. He created a medical warning device and then sold it to a large tech company, not realizing that in exchange for making millions and millions of dollars, his product would be denigrated into something it wasn't meant to be. But he likes having the money and he likes doing things to take care of his family. He has filled his home/office with lots of toys to make up for the loneliness that he feels. He grew up with few friends, thanks in part to a severe food allergy that made it difficult for kids to understand him and his needs. They even betrayed his trust in a most horrific way. So he finds it extremely difficult to trust people. Sure there are a lot of people who like to surround him in life, but they are more interested in the celebrity status than anything actually deep and meaningful. No one really knows the true Kyle.

He's also brilliant, but stuck right now because he is supposed to deliver the next amazing idea to this company, and his brain is fried. So he decides to create a contest for other inventors to contribute their ideas for a prize. Only they don't realize that is going to essentially steal their idea in exchange for the prize money.

Ava is part of the reason that he has come up with this contest idea. She and Kyle met after a freak accident on a photography shoot. When she and her friends came to see his office/home, they were casually talking and indirectly the idea was proposed. 

Ava works primarily as a paramedic but also spends a lot of time caring for her mother who suffers from the relapsing version of MS. She is also wicked smart and has a lot of great ideas. She is also quite lonely because she is so focused on her mother. She works long hours to make sure that her mother can afford the care and medication that she needs and doesn't worry about social gatherings. She does have her friends, and she is very close with her friends. But romance is definitely the last thing on her mind. 

I feel sorry for both of these characters. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to take care of ailing parents, only I was a lot luckier than Ava in the help that I received to do so. And I feel sorry for people like Kyle who have been ostracized for something out of their control, like his food allergy. I understand why he has shut himself off from the world, but just wish he could allow himself to open up.

Somehow the two of them have an attraction to each other, pretty much from the start. Kyle's attraction to Ava makes a lot more sense to me. I don't quite understand why he flicks a light in Ava, at least not at first. But the heart wants what it wants, right?

As the story goes on and the two are working with the other team members on this invention contest, you find that these two people, who are so set in their ways, are actually starting to soften. Ava is realizing that she needs more in her life. Kyle is realizing that you can have true friends and relationships out there. Of course, the true motives behind the contest are going to throw some massive wrenches into the works. But once the seeds of love are planted, all can win in the end, right?

I enjoyed reading this storyline, as it was different than most other romances out there. I also enjoy characters who are deeper with more complexities that they have to work through. It allows for measurable growth, which you want to find in a good book. And I like those romances where an unlikely friendship and romance can blossom from what seems to be an improbable place.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's 70 year marriage and her parent's marriage of over 50 years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect, it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers. Visit her at her website.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Pinterest

Tour Schedule

November 12th:
Launch
I Am A Reader
Hearts & Scribbles
Remembrancy
November 13th:
Wishful Endings
Inside The Mind of an Avid Reader
Heidi Reads...
ReadingIsMySuperPower
November 14th:
Colorimetry
Rockin' Book Reviews
Among the Reads
Book by Book
November 15th:
E-Romance News
Harlie's Books
Reading On The Edge
Kimber Li
November 16th:
My Devotional Thoughts
underneath the covers
Andi's Book Reviews
November 17th:
Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive a$50 Amazon e-Gift Card & e-copy of The Rancher's Rescue (open internationally)

- 1 winner will receive a San Francisco Cable Car Ornament, Signed Copy of The Rancher's Rescue & $50 Amazon Gift Card (US only)

- Ends November 21, 2018

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Review of Mistletoe in Mayhem by L. E. Rico with Giveaway

I am madly in love with Mayhem, Minnesota, and I'm sure you will be too if you read this novella collection. The two stories are follow-ups to earlier books in the series, but I think you could still enjoy them on their own as this set. Read my detailed review plus an excerpt. Please leave the author comments and questions all along the tour and take advantage of extra chances to enter the giveaway!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you. I also received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Mistletoe in Mayhem

A Christmas Wedding In Mayhem

You’re cordially invited to the wedding of the century! Please join bride-trying-not-to-be-a-zilla Hennessy O’Halloran and her prince-in-shining-snow-boots as they finally say, “I do.” Unless a rogue wedding planner and a blizzard that takes out the entire Midwest can stop them, these two will get married on Christmas. The town of Mayhem will make sure of it.

A Surprise Baby In Mayhem

The town of Mayhem, Minnesota, is about to have a population explosion…and the Whiskey Sisters are getting more than they expected! While newlyweds Henny and Bryan are anxiously awaiting not one but two little bundles of joy, Jameson and Scott are focusing on planning their own perfect wedding, with only one troublesome toddler in tow. But babies have a way of arriving on their own schedules…and fate has a way of intervening in this quirky hamlet. Now, the couple finds themselves scrambling to beat the clock—and the odds—to their own happily ever after before their unexpected special delivery arrives.

Travel to the quirky town of Mayhem, Minnesota, with these two companion novellas that prove love, and sisterhood, will always save the day.

Read an excerpt:

I pull her into my arms, reveling in the feel of her soft curves pressed against my chest, and rest my chin atop her blonde head. She buries her face into my sweatshirt.

“Hennessy, honey, you need to stop worrying about all the little details. We’ve come this far and, with the help of a whole lotta people, we’re going to have a beautiful wedding. With or without heat. With or without light. As long as you’re there with me, up at the altar, then nothing else matters,” I murmur into her hair.

She looks up at me with pale blue eyes, brows arched in concern.

“Bryan, I don’t consider heat and light ‘little details.’ And the roads—they’re like ice! How will anyone get here safely? How will we get here safely?”

I sigh and brush the hair back off her forehead.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” I ask. “And that’s not a rhetorical question.”

“I think I have some idea,” she replies, the corners of her mouth quirking up a little.

I shake my head.

“No, I don’t think you do. I wanted this wedding to happen fast because I couldn’t wait another day to be married to you. Don’t you see? It doesn’t matter—none of it matters. In the end, it’s just you and me taking a vow before God. It’s not the wedding, Hennessy. It’s the marriage.”

Her eyes study mine for a long moment before she puts a soft hand to my cheek.

“I’ll try to stay calm,” she assures me. “And I do know how much you love me…because that’s how much I love you, too.”

I lean down, my lips finding hers. It’s a beautiful, candlelit moment. Until it’s not.

“Noooooooooo, Mama! Miiiiiiiiiiine!”

Our kiss transforms into a double-sided snort of laughter. We pull away from one another, chuckling. When she opens her mouth to say something, I hold up my index finger to stop her.

“And before you worry about Jax being too young, or too unpredictable, he’s a little detail, too. An incredibly loud, incredibly destructive detail…but a little one, nonetheless.”

“Yeah, well, maybe we should reconsider letting him be the ring bearer,” she says.

“Why? You don’t think he can handle it?”

“Uh, well, you know the plastic bottle cap ring we’re using for practice?”

“Yeah…” I nod, wondering where she’s going with this.

“He just swallowed it.”

Buy links:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

**My thoughts**

I already fell in love with the Whiskey sisters when reading their earlier stories, so I was excited to check out this one. I also love the town of Mayhem, Minnesota. There's something special about all of the people there. They take care of their own and do whatever it takes to help make each other's dreams come true. I have to tell you that the way these people step up, especially in the first story with Henny and Bryan's wedding, brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. I was so happy to see them finally get married, and in total honor of the Whiskey sisters' parents. It's just beautiful.

Move on to the second story and babies are all over the place. A new generation is being born. The pregnancies are not necessarily as easy as you would think. Yet again, the sisters and their families rally together to help each other out in beautiful ways. And yes, I had a couple of beautiful choked up moments while reading this one. This installment also has a lot of literal LOL moments, between the nanny applicants, puppets in church, things that come out of the mouths of babes, and just general Mayhem that is guaranteed to happen with these people.

I love seeing these stories come full circle. I think you could enjoy these novellas without reading the first books in the series, but they will definitely have more meaning if you also give those a shot. I'm also suspecting that more books are going to follow soon, based on some new characters who are introduced to us. I am really looking forward to reading more, because the Whiskey sisters and the town of Mayhem are a lot of fun!

About L.E. Rico

L.E. Rico didn’t set out to be an author. In fact, she’s made a name for herself as a classical music radio host—doing her best to make the music and the composers relevant by putting them into a modern context. It was just a few years ago that she discovered a passion for writing that blossomed into an entire novel. And then another. And another. And, while she still spends plenty of time on the radio, telling the stories of the great composers, she spends even more time composing her own great stories.

www.LaurenRico.com

Twitter: @TheLaurenRico

Instagram: LaurenRicoAuthor

L.E. Rico will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from Kismet & Karma (Fate & Fortune #2) by Robin Daniels



On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Welcome to the book tour for the Fate & Fortune series by Robin Daniels! I love, love, love this series! You can catch my review of both books over at Andi's Young Adult Books. Here, I am sharing an excerpt from the second book, Kismet & Karma. Please enjoy, and then grab both books, because they are so much fun! And of course see the rest of the tour below for more fun, and to enter the giveaway.

Fate & Fortune

(Fate & Fortune #1)
By Robin Daniels

YA Contemporary Romance, Duology
ebook, 279 Pages

September 20th 2018

Bryce has liked Paige since they were little but has never had the guts to act on his feelings. Paige is devastated over being dumped by her long-time boyfriend and can’t seem to move on. They’re stuck in a rut, until fate decides to pull them out.

Both Paige and Bryce are talked into seeing a fortune teller at the annual Summer’s End Carnival. Neither of them buys into the mysticism, until the psychic’s predictions start coming true. Now, the most bizarre things are happening and there isn’t a clear explanation. Each of them must figure out if they’re the subject of an elaborate hoax or a bigger plan forged by destiny.

*This book is part one of two. Books should be read sequentially.

Goodreads│Amazon

Kismet & Karma

(Fate & Fortune #2)
By Robin Daniels

YA Contemporary Romance, Duology
ebook, 184 Pages

October 25th 2018

Bryce and Paige belong together, but they’ll never make it happen alone. When inspiration strikes in multiple ways, a friend decides it can’t be a coincidence; it’s a call to action. With a little luck, the help of fate, and the matchmaking plan of the century, Bryce and Paige just might get their happy ending.

You heard Paige and Bryce's version of the story in Fate & Fortune. Now join Eric, Amy, Cody, Kennedy and Genie to see how things really went down.

***This book completes the series. Book one can be read as a standalone, but book two cannot. Fate & Fortune should be read first.***

Goodreads│Amazon

Read an exclusive excerpt:

Kismet & Karma – AMY

I grabbed the phone and ran into my bathroom. “Okay,” I answered, shoving my toothbrush into my mouth. I continued speaking while I scrubbed. “You should probably come up with an alternate location, just in case.” My words were muffled by toothpaste foam. 

“Are you brushing your teeth?” Eric sounded amused. 

“I’m in a hurry,” I replied, then spit and rinsed. 

He chuckled. “Since we’ve progressed to brushing our teeth together, does that mean I can take you into the bathroom while I pee?” 

I wanted to laugh, but that would only encourage him. “I’m hanging up now.” 

He was smart not to argue. “Don’t forget to text me when you’re on your way.” 

“I won’t.” 

“Don’t forget to tell me you luuuv me…”

“’Bye, Eric.” I hung up on him.

About the Author

The most important thing to know about me is that I'm basically a sixteen-year-old trapped in an adult's body. It's why I feel such a great connection to all of my characters and why I love to write romantic comedy. The kid in me just wants to be goofy. Besides being a writer; I'm a wife, mother of five, volleyball enthusiast and home decorating guru. My list of favorites includes: reading, Christmas, pedicures, dessert, steak, Arizona winters and most importantly, Diet Coke.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│
Instagram│Amazon│Newsletter

Tour Schedule

November 5th:
Launch
Heidi Reads...
Mythical Books
November 6th:
Becky on Books
Rockin' Book Reviews
Christen Krumm, Writer
November 7th:
Among the Reads
Dani Reviews Things
November 8th:
Harlie's Books
Colorimetry
November 9th:
Singing Librarian Books
Getting Your Read On
November 12th:
Katie's Clean Book Collection
Wishful Endings
November 13th:
Sarah Jane Lamb
Seasons of Humility
November 14th:
Paulette's Papers
Andi's Young Adult Books
Andi's Book Reviews
November 15th:
Mel's Shelves
Kathryn Cooper Writes
Rainy Day Reviews
November 16th:
Teatime and Books
Ghoulish Life & Reviews
A Backwards Story
Remembrancy
November 17th:
Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally
Ends November 21, 2018

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House of Ashes by Loretta Marion

For mystery fans who also like a touch of paranormal and romance, I bring you House of Ashes by Loretta Marion. Please enjoy an excerpt and then download your own copy. Leave comments and questions as you follow the book tour and then make sure you enter the giveaway!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

House of Ashes

Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it's by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.

Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what's happened to the young couple...even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can't help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family's dark curse destroys everything in its path?

Buy links

Amazon * Barnes&Noble *  Books-A-Million * Indiebound

About Loretta Marion

A true bibliophile, Loretta Marion's affection for the written word began in childhood and followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she crafted award winning marketing and advertising copy and educational brochures. She then applied her writing skills as a volunteer, establishing a Legacy Story program for hospice patients, which inspired her to create her own fictional stories. Her debut novel, The Fool's Truth, was a twisty mystery with whispers of romance. Her newest novel, HOUSE OF ASHES – A Haunted Bluffs Mystery, is the first in a series published by Crooked Lane Books.

When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador”.

Website: https://www.LorettaMarion.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorettaMarionAuthor

Loretta Marion will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Writing an Engaging Series: A Look at FBI Thriller On the Count of Three by Carolyn Arnold

A well-written police procedural is worth every lost moment of sleep. But they have to be done just right, otherwise they aren't worth it. Carolyn Arnold is a bestselling author who has mastered this art. Today she is telling us how to write an engaging series. You can also check out an excerpt from her latest book, On the Count of Three, and leave her further comments and questions. Be sure to follow the tour and take advantage of all the opportunities to win the giveaway!

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Writing an Engaging Series

The more books you write in a series, the steeper the challenges. The overall plot, the killer(s), the method, the victimology are rather easy. What is more difficult is coming up with ways for your characters to grow. It requires that you dig deep into out their backgrounds, their motivations, and their experience. If authors get lazy in this regard, it will show in the final product.

For this reason, I endeavor to interview my characters to really drill down and find out what about the plot has that can parallel to their personal or professional lives. Sometimes it’s harder than it sounds. When it came to writing On the Count of Three, I interviewed several of the characters—even ones outside the series’ main characters.

In this book, I’m introducing someone who may become a part of the series and there’s only one shot at a first impression. You need to make sure the character is strong and relatable—real—so that readers can connect with them and want to know more about that person. Further than that, you want the reader so invested in the character, they’ll want to follow them for many books to come.

Also, if you’re writing a police procedural series like me, it’s crucial to get the facts right. If you’re familiar with my work, you realize just how important this aspect is to me. I’ve even adopted the trademark Police Procedurals Respected by Law Enforcement™. This wasn’t a decision that I chose, but rather that chose me. I’ve had many people from law enforcement reach out to me over the years to tell me how accurate my books are. Some have said they even see themselves in the characters as if looking in a mirror.

So how do I get my facts right when I don’t have a background in law enforcement? Research, but I’ve also been blessed with a network of people who have experience in law enforcement to answer my questions. They are so understanding and selfless with their time in responding. What I’ve found is they are appreciative that I am taking the time to make sure procedure is as accurate as possible.

I am pleased to say that even though the challenges can be great—and at times seem insurmountable—I believe my hard work has paid off again with the seventh installment in the Brandon Fisher FBI series. On the Count of Three took much longer to finish up than I would have liked, but I believe the final product makes up for any delay.

I invite you to download a copy of On the Count of Three or order in paperback or hardcover from your favorite retailer. But be warned: this book isn’t for the faint of heart.

On the Count of Three

And they thought prison was hell…

When a woman’s disappearance ticks off all the same boxes as two unsolved murders, Miami homicide detective Kelly Marsh is convinced there’s about to be a third. If she’s right and the killer sticks to their previous MO, she only has three days before Jenna Kelter’s decapitated head will show up somewhere in the city. With no time to waste, Kelly reaches out to the one person she knows can help: her former mentor and family friend Jack Harper, who just happens to lead a team with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.

BAU special agent and profiler Brandon Fisher easily sees the similarities between Detective Marsh’s missing person case and the two cold cases: all three victims served time for DUI vehicular homicide and disappeared three days after being released from prison. But is that enough to assume Kelter has been abducted by a serial killer? Brandon’s not so sure and fears his boss may have let his personal connection to Marsh cloud his judgment. Surely there isn’t any other explanation for why they jumped into an investigation less than twenty-four hours after Kelter was reported missing. Then again, maybe Brandon is letting his own differences with the detective affect his perspective. He’ll need to move past it, though—and quickly.

After all, this killer has evaded capture for the past six years, and they may be looking at a lot more victims than originally suspected. This serial killer is calling the shots and pulling them into a macabre game of cat and mouse. While the team has no choice but to play, if they don’t make the right moves, one of them may not make it out of Miami alive.

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

“We’ll start on the count of three,” he said in a singsong voice. The Night pulsed beneath his skin with a heartbeat of its own.

“No, no, please!” the woman screamed.

It pierced his ears, but he smiled, moving into position next to her. “One…” He reached out for the chain that suspended the blade. “T—” His phone rang. His body quaked, the tremors of the Night snaking through him.

He grabbed a roll of duct tape from a nearby utility shelf and slapped a piece across her mouth. He normally didn’t have to worry about their screams out there, but he wanted to answer this call. The ringtone told him it was his girlfriend, Roxanne. She fit into his life plan—at least for now—and he didn’t want to mess things up with her.

He kept his eyes on the woman as he answered his phone. “Hey, sweetie.”

He listened as his girlfriend prattled on about their plans for the following evening—dinner, then a movie. Nothing new there. She said maybe dancing afterward, but they’d never make it to a club. She’d be ready for bed by ten, and he’d tuck her in. She was as predictable as drying paint and about as exciting. But she played along with his sexual fantasies without contention, and she’d do anything to make him happy.

“You’ll pick me up? My place at six o’clock?” she asked.

“I can do that. I’m looking forward to spending some time with you.”

“Love you,” Roxanne told him.

“Love you, too.” He hung up, smiling, and let the expression carry for his victim to see. He set up his cell phone to record again and walked toward the woman. “Let’s pick up where we left off, shall we?”

She was screaming behind the tape and bucking her head wildly. She was clearly trying to slide back, as if she could worm her way out of the guillotine.

Yes, fight. It makes it so much more fun…

“One,” he roared above her. “Two…” He wound the chain around his fingers. With a flick of his wrist, he released it. “Three.”

About Carolyn Arnold

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international best-selling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:
Website - http://carolynarnold.net/
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Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters

Carolyn Arnold will be giving away a paperback copy of Remnants. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

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Review of A Cowboy's Christmas Proposal by Cathy McDavid



Welcome to the book tour for A Cowboy's Christmas Proposal by Cathy McDavid. It's another touching cowboy story taking place on a ranch, plus it takes place during the Christmas season. I love my Christmas stories and I have been loving these rancher stories lately. So please check out my review and then follow the tour for more reviews and other book fun. Plus there's a fantastic giveaway!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Cowboy's Christmas Proposal
(The Sweetheart Ranch #1)
By Cathy McDavid
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
November 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming

At a magical time of year…

Can a cowboy help falling in love?

For single dad Owen Caufield, living and working at Sweetheart Ranch for a month is the perfect change of pace. While the cowboy turned wedding officiant can now spend more time with his children, Molly O’Malley, his new boss, is less thrilled. A wedding ranch isn’t the best place for three rambunctious youngsters. But amid the chaos—and the coming holidays—it may be the best place to fall in love…

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**My thoughts**

I really can't seem to get enough of the cowboy and rancher romance stories lately. This story gets bonus points for taking place during the Christmas season, because I also can't get enough of the Christmas romances at this time of year. This book fit both perfectly.

Molly is a mess in the romance department. She has failed at marriage more than once, and before she has even made it down the aisle. It's affected her on every level of her life. So when her grandmother decides to elope and asks her to take over the Sweetheart Ranch weddings for a month, she decides it is a good time to try for a fresh start helping other people have their dream wedding. She tends to be overly attentive to details and demands as close to perfection as one can muster, which makes her a good person for the job. 

Owen is also starting over in a sense. He has left his demanding job and has come to the ranch to stand in for his great-uncle, who happens to be the groom of Molly's grandmother. He has brought his three young children with him so that he can get to know them better. They have spent most of their time with their mother, his ex-wife, and don't know him as well, because he has always been away for work. He has online ordination which allows him to perform secular weddings, which fit in perfectly at Sweetheart Ranch. It doesn't hurt that he is easy on the eyes. He is also used to being in charge at work. This can compliment Molly's style, or potentially stand in her way. 

The two work extremely well together. They also mesh well together on a personal level. Owen is a bit more eager to make things work than Molly is. He wants to find someone with whom he is compatible to share his life and to care for his kids. All three of them have taken to Molly and she does well with them. The problem is, Molly has her guard up. I can't say that I blame her, especially considering her past love life. 

You pretty much know the way the story is going to go, because these kinds of romances do follow a certain kind of formula. But what's lovely to enjoy is the road that gets them to that point. You watch Molly grow and she comes into herself while running the Sweetheart Ranch. You watch Owen grow as he bonds with his kids and truly realizes the importance of his relationship with them as their father. Both of them learn more about trusting others. 

And how can you not fall in love with the Sweetheart Ranch? I wish this place was real, because I would love to go visit it. Carriage rides, hayrides, campfires, and an overall romantic air about the place just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I even had moments where my eyes got a little misty, but I am a big romantic at heart, myself. That's a sign of a great romance for sure.

About the Author

In the third grade, NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathy McDavid made it her goal to read every Black Stallion book ever written. Who knew such an illustrious ambition would eventually lead to a lifelong love of all things western and a career writing contemporary romances for Harlequin? With over 1.2 million books sold, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll.

An “almost” Arizona native, she’s married to her own real-life sweetheart, whom she re-met a few years ago at a high school reunion. Her grown twins are out on their own and finding their happily-ever-afters. In 2014, Cathy retired from the corporate world to write full-time. She now spends her days penning stories about good looking cowboys riding the range, busting a bronc, and sweeping gals off their feet. It a tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.

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Tour Schedule

November 7th:

Launch

It's All About the Romance

Hearts & Scribbles

Candrel's Crafts, Cook, & Characters

November 8th:

My Devotional Thoughts

Remembrancy

November 9th:

Andi's Book Reviews

underneath the covers

November 12th:

Kimber Li

E-Romance News

November 13th:

Christy's Cozy Corners

Colorimetry

Rockin' Book Reviews

November 14th:

Jorie Loves A Story

Nicole's Book Musings

November 15th:

Thoughts of a Blonde

Splashes of Joy

Inside the Mind of an Avid Reader

November 16th:

I Am A Reader

Book by Book

November 19th:

Book Lover in Florida

Britt Reads Fiction

November 20th:

Heidi Reads...

Reading Is My SuperPower

November 21st:

Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive their choice of two previously published Christmas stories by Cathy McDavid (print or ebook, winner's choice), a small gift bag of promo bling, a holiday ornament, and a $10 Amazon Gift Card

US only

Ends November 23, 2018

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Review of The Heartbreak Cowboy by Mina Beckett

Welcome to the book tour for The Heartbreak Cowboy, hosted by Promotional Book Tours! I shared an author interview over on my other site Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters, and today I have a review of the book for you. Enjoy my thoughts and be sure to grab your own copy! Follow the tour below to read the interview, more reviews, and other fun posts. And there's a great giveaway that you'll want to check out.

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you. I also received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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*Old flames burn hotter the second time around...*

It’s been four long years since McCrea Coldiron watched Eleanor Mackenna walk out of his life. He wasn’t ready for the marriage noose then and never thought he would be. Single, free to do as he pleases, and running the Promise Point Horse Rescue Ranch are the things that make him sure he was right to let Eleanor go… This is until she comes back to town with a daughter he never knew about in tow.

Eleanor knows just how badly McCrea can burn a woman and how persuasive he can be when he wants something, so she’s more than cautious about his charming words and cocky grin when she comes home to arrange the sale of her grandparents’ ranch. But when a flat tire in a thunderstorm introduces four-year-old Sophie to her daddy, Eleanor knows McCrea’s love for his daughter is genuine. Can she trust it will be the same for her? As the icy walls around her heart begin to melt, Eleanor must find the courage to trust her heart or run away from the man who has always owned it.

Being shown what he lost is a wake-up call for McCrea and he isn’t about to let Eleanor or Sophie walk away. It’s time to prove he’s a man who believes in love and happy-ever-after.  

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**My thoughts**

From the get-go, I could tell that Eleanor and McCrea had complete miscommunication between the two of them and deserved to have time to talk things through and to try to work things out. It's clear that the two of them still have a strong attraction to each other. And I rooted for them to figure it out the whole way. Mina does a good job of illustrating the extremes of feelings that go on in someone's mind when they are torn between hatred for the other person for betrayal and yet are still strongly attracted to someone, especially to who you used to be together. Jumbled up emotions take over and you feel almost crazy as you experience the various extremes.

While I am rooting for them to work it out, I am also cautioning them to take it easy. There is a lot of anger that felt like it disappeared too conveniently for me, and their daughter Sophie did play a huge role in that. And while we find out why McCrea didn't know that he had a daughter, I will say that I find it so hard to believe that so many people in a relatively small town had no idea that Eleanor had a child, even though she had moved away. She still had family there, still snuck to town for visits, and really didn't live dreadfully far away. Plus the two families go back for generations. There are a lot of buried family secrets, though, that are slowly revealed to provide some insight.

Beyond that, I did enjoy the descriptions of the ranches and the ranching lifestyle. While I never would make it living in such an environment, there is something so romantic about the idea of a ranch (in spite of the extreme hard work it takes to run one). I've been reading a lot of romances lately about being on a ranch. I love the horse rescue idea and how McCrea is trying to really do good in his life, as well as trying to show the love of his life how he can be her perfect cowboy.

About Mina Beckett

Mina and her husband live on a small farm in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of southern Kentucky. She's an artist, an avid reader, a dog lover, and a miniature horses enthusiast. Life in her corner of the world consists of long winter nights curled up by the fire, cheering on her favorite football teams in the fall, enduring March Madness in the spring and walking barefoot through her garden with a cold jar of tea in the summer fireflies at sunset accompanied by a serenade of crickets and frogs, and lazy nights in the porch swing.

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Pick up the prequel novella The Cowboy's Goodnight Kiss for FREE on Mina's website!

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